Bitcoin 
$91,081 surpassed $123,000 in U.S. markets on the week’s first trading day but then slightly retreated. As the market neared closing, Bitcoin fell below $120,000, showing a limited increase of 0.6% over 24 hours. Other leading cryptocurrencies experienced declines, with Ethereum 
$3,094’s Ether dropping below $3,000, while Dogecoin 
$0.136431, Cardano 
$0.385644’s ADA, and Stellar’s XLM depreciated by 2-3%. Post-market closing in the U.S., a modest recovery was observed in altcoins.
The Arrival of the Altcoin Bull Market
Despite a general weakening across the market, some major cryptocurrencies showed positive differentiation. XRP, SUI, and Uniswap’s UNI token increased by 2.5%, 10%, and 6%, respectively. Meanwhile, shares of companies linked to the cryptocurrency market surrendered some of their morning gains. However, shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR) and Galaxy (GLXY) still closed up by 3% to 4%, while Coinbase (COIN) shares recorded a rise of 1.5%.
The recent sharp increase of more than 10% in Bitcoin and even greater gains in some altcoins prompted discussions about the potential for a short-term stabilization in prices, with some investors possibly engaging in profit-taking. Nonetheless, financial experts suggest that despite the recent rally, the market has not yet peaked.
Jeff Dorman, Investment Director at Arca, noted that the ongoing rally is certainly not near previous significant peaks. Dorman highlighted that after the spot Bitcoin ETF in March 2024 or during political developments at the end of 2024 or early 2025, open positions in altcoin derivatives exceeded those of Bitcoin. Currently, such a distribution is not observed in the market.
The trading volumes of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies showed a 23% increase compared to the beginning of the week, yet they remain lower when benchmarked against previous comprehensive market surges. Market observers infer this indicator suggests limited enthusiasm within the market, indicating that the altcoin bull market has not started.
Long-Term Outlooks
Eric Demuth, CEO of the Bitpanda exchange operating in Europe, claimed that a core reason for Bitcoin’s price rise is the globally escalating state debts and investors seeking a safe haven against inflation. Demuth mentioned the possibility of BTC reaching 200,000 euros ($233,000) while emphasizing that its adoption holds greater significance than price targets.
Eric Demuth posed a critical question: “What happens when Bitcoin becomes permanently included in major investors’ reserves or global banking infrastructure?” He emphasized this process is currently unfolding. According to analysts, in the forthcoming years, Bitcoin’s total market value might gradually match the approximately $22 trillion market cap of gold, which is nine times larger than Bitcoin.
Observations from experts and industry representatives indicate that the current fluctuations in cryptocurrency markets continue amid both short-term selling pressures and sustained investor interest. Trading volumes and open position distributions do not yet definitively signal an overheated market. In the long term, particularly macroeconomic conditions and large investors adding more crypto assets to their portfolios could emerge as decisive factors in Bitcoin’s integration process into the financial system.
